Vaporizer



April 19, 1927. ,625,034

N. LAWNER VAPORIZER Filed June 8-,. 1926 /Z INVE TQR %M%ATTORNEY UNITED STATES- v 1,625.34 PATENT QF lC-E;

NICHOLAS LAWNER,

' varomznn.

Application filed June 8, 192a. Serial No. 114,448.

This invention relates to Vaporizers of a kind which employs an electric heater suitableforheating liquids in small receptacles such as jars and the like. j

The vaporizer is principally intended for use for treatment of bronchial diseases, such as asthma, etc., employing benzoin or similar liquids'of which the vapors have curative properties. It has been found that with hitherto, known electric varopizers of the kind referred to there is the disadvantage that when the liquid in the receptacle is entirely evaporated and the electric current is not shut off in time, as for instance, when used by the patient during the night, there is not only waste of electricity but the dangen that thereceptacle when made of glass will crack.

One object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means wherebvthe electric current will'be automaticallyshut oil when the liquid is entirely evaporated or sinks below a certain level.

Another object of this invention is to provide suitable means for supporting the receptacle in steady position when in use and also to prevent the removal of the cover thereof while the current is on so as to avoid injury to the hands of the user.

With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will e hereinafter fully described and defined 1n the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters denote corresponding; parts an in whichv Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the vaporizer and its support, a part'of the receptacle being broken away to show some details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4: of Fig. 8;

Fig. 5 is a reduced side elevation of a slightly modified construction; and Fig. 6' is a. top plan view thereof.

In the drawing v or other suitable receptacle to contain. benzoin or other suitable liquid to be evaporated. The jaris formed with 2. threads neck 10 on which-is screwed a cover 11 of comprises a pair making 10 denotes a glass jar,

sheet'met-al or the like. This cover is prov1ded with a nozzle 12 and has also fixed thereto -a suitable electric heater 13 adapted to prO eC-t downwardly into the jar and to be submerged in the liquid tobe evaporated. The heater may be of any of the well known types. In the present example the same consists of two electric bar shaped vertical conductors 14, 1 1 suitably fixed and insulated from the inner face of the cover, and each carrying at its lower end a carbon 15, the two carbons constituting the positive and negative which when the current is on produce the heat necessary to evaporate the liquid. This heater is also well known in the art and a further detailed description thereof is therefore unnecessary.

The terminals of the conductors are formed by prongs 16, 16 which are fixed to the cover and adapted to project upwardly therefrom to receive the usual electric plug 17. One of the terminals 16 is directly connected to the corresponding conductor 14 as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The other terminal 16 iseonnected to the cone sponding conductor 14 through an automatically controlled make and break mechanism 18. In the present example this mechanism of oppositely located con- 20, and a float controlled the contact member 20 being connected to the terminal 16. The members 19, 20. have upwardly converging portions 19 20 and member 21 is coneshaped so as to fit between and be capable of effective cont-act with said converging portions 19 20 of the members 19 and 20. The lower ends 19 20 are insulated from another by a non-conducting centrally perforated disk 22. The member 21 is provided with a central extension in form of a rod 21 which is adapted to project vertically downward through the receptacle and when the cone 21is in operative position, to terminate near the bottom of the'receptacle or at least below the lower ends of the heating elements. At this lower end it is provided tact members 19, contact member 21-,

OF BROOKLYN, {NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SUNDRIES (10., INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

carbons or heating resistances with a shoulder or disk shaped member 23.

d liquid will by its weight pull the member 21 out of contact with the members 19 and and thereby break the circuit. A very light spring mounted around the upper part of the rod and acting against the cone 21 will tend to return said member into operative position.

It will be clear that while there is sufficient liquid in the receptacle and the plug 17 is in engagement; with the terminals 16, 16 the heater will operate. When on the evaporation of the liquid the float reaches the shoulder 23 it will pull the cone 2] out of contact with the member 19 and 20 and break the electric circuit.

26 denotes a support for the receptacle to keep the latter in steady position when in use, This support comprises a base 26 formed with legs 26 and gripping members 26 to grip the lower part of the jar. Projecting from and fixed to one side of the base is a vertical post 27 formed with a handle 28. From an upper portion of the post 27 projects horizontally a split resilient hoop-shaped clamping arm 29 adapted to embrace the neck of the receptacle when resting on the base 26.

The upper end of the post is extended and formed with a horizontally extending looped member 30 which is adapted to embrace the electric plug when the latter engages the terminals 19, 20. This engagement of the plug prevents the unscrewing of the cover 11 while the plug is in position of use to avoid injury to the user.

According to the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the loop 31 is not rigid but carried by or formed on a bendable arm or extension 27 of the post 27. This loop is adapted to tightly engage around the plug and need not be disengaged therefrom.

When it is desired to shut off the current.

the loop which may be formed with lateral grasps 31 is simply forced upwardl into the dotted line position shown in ig. 5 whereby the plug l7 is disengaged from the terminal but remains supported in the loop away from the terminals. The loop 31 thus also serves as a support for the plug when in operative position.

With a support of the above described construction the vaporizer can be conveniently moved from place to place.

What I claim is 1. An electric vaporizer comprising a rec'eptacle, a removable lid therefor, an electric heater suspended from said lid and having outwardly projecting terminals for the engagement of an electric plug and means engaging said receptacle and said plug to prevent the removal of said lid while the plug is in engagement with said terminals.

2. An electric vaporizer comprising a .receptacle, a removable lid therefor, an electric heater suspended from said lid and adapted to be subn'ierged in the contents of said receptacle, said lid having outwardly projecting terminals for the engagement of an electric plug and means engaging said receptacle and formed with a resilient extension adapted to engage said plug to prevent the removal of the lid while said plug engages said terminals.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

NICHOLAS LAlVNER. 

